COVID-19 spike spurs Sacramento State to go online first two weeks of spring semester

Most Sacramento State classes and labs will meet virtually for the first two weeks of the spring semester, President Robert S. Nelsen announced Tuesday, as COVID-19 cases in the county skyrocket to the highest levels seen during the pandemic.

Classes and labs will largely meet online from Jan. 24 through Feb. 6, “in an effort to minimize the fear and potential danger as the daily rates spike,” Nelsen stated. Classes “whose professors determine that instruction should not be online and needs to be face-to-face” can request to meet in person, and residence halls will remain open.

“I want to be clear that the two-week shift to mostly virtual instruction is temporary and that campus will remain open even during the transition,” Nelsen stated.

Sacramento State officials hope that the temporary two-week period of instruction online will allow students and staff to return after the peak of COVID-19 cases fueled by the omicron variant.

The county’s latest seven-day case rate is about 80 per 100,000, soaring well past the previous record of 64 set in December 2020. Between Christmas and New Year’s Day, about one in six test results in Sacramento County were coming back positive for COVID-19.

“Life truly has been hectic, and we all need time to take a deep breath before resuming our published schedule,” Nelsen stated.

Nearly 96% of students, staff and faculty are vaccinated, according to university officials.

The decision comes after the University of California system announced last month that campuses would have discretion whether to return to classes in-person or online. UC Davis opted to delay on-campus classes at least for its first week back.

This story was originally published January 4, 2022 at 3:32 PM.